"Public To EPA On Cutting Regulations: 'No!'"

"As part of President Trump's executive order to review 'job-killing regulations,' the Environmental Protection Agency last month asked for the public's input on what to streamline or cut. It held a series of open-mic meetings, and set up a website that has now received more than 28,000 comments, many of which urge the agency not to roll back environmental protections.

'The EPA saves lives,' wrote Benjamin Kraushaar, who described himself as a hydrologist, hunter and flyfisherman. He wrote that environmental regulations 'ensure safe air and water for our future generations. This should not be even up for debate.'

'The problem isn't regulation,' wrote Marcia Nichols in another comment. 'It's with greedy corporate leaders who are more concerned about the bottom line.' Like many others, she credited the EPA with improving air and water that were visibly polluted in the 1970's. 'I remember orange skies over cities, acid rain eroding statues in parks, frequent boil orders for water,' she wrote."

Jennifer Ludden reports for NPR May 19, 2017.